Our technology inquiry question is: “What are the benefits and challenges of integrating AI technologies into K-12 education?” presented by Kathryn, Arwyn, Paris, and Shanyce. Our presentation explores how AI can revolutionize teaching and learning. AI has the potential to enhance personalized learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks for teachers, and provide adaptive feedback to meet diverse student needs. However, challenges such as data privacy concerns, equitable access, and the need for robust teacher training cannot be overlooked. Our project highlights strategies and best practices for AI integration into the classroom.
Author: kgullackson
Classroom Management
In our technology and innovation class, guest speaker Brittany Johnson shared valuable classroom management strategies designed to support student engagement and emotional well-being. Below is an overview of some key strategies she discussed:
SEL Check-ins
Brittany emphasized the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) check-ins to understand students’ feelings each day. One example involved using characters and emotions from the movie Inside Out paired with a check-in sheet that reads: “I feel [blank] because [blank], and people around me can help by [blank].” There is also a tick box for students to indicate if they want to speak to their teacher about their feelings. This creative approach provides a fun and meaningful way for students to express their emotions, fostering better understanding and support from teachers. Reflecting on this, I feel that such a tool could have made a big difference during my childhood, offering a way for my emotions to be recognized and supported.
Soft Starts and Transitions
Soft starts and thoughtful transitions help ease students into new activities. For example, during my Grade 1 practicum, my teacher uses calm music, fidget toys, building blocks, reading time, and drawing in the mornings to gently transition students into their day. This practice reduces anxiety and helps students settle in, creating a positive learning environment.
Routines and Expectations
Brittany highlighted that children often thrive on routine and structure. Clear expectations can reduce anxiety and help students feel more secure. In my practicum, my teacher uses a visual schedule with laminated circles, each representing an activity. As the day progresses, a clothespin moves to the next circle, visually showing students what to expect. This simple yet effective approach gives students a clear picture of their day.
Inquiry and Strength Based Approach
Brittany sets classroom goals focused on students’ interests, strengths, and areas for growth. Recognizing that every class is different, this approach ensures students remain engaged, challenged, and motivated by what truly interests and inspires them.
Co-Creating and Collaboration
Involving students in co-creating classroom rules, decorations, learning materials, and rubrics helps them feel a sense of ownership and engagement. When students have a voice in their environment, they are more invested and engaged, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and collaboration.
Digital Literacy Framework
Finally, Brittany emphasized how technology can be a powerful tool to help students engage and take ownership of their learning. Using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, technology can enhance engagement, representation, and action/expression, impacting different parts of the brain. By leveraging technology, we can support a diverse range of learning styles and needs.
Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines
Today, children are not getting enough movement at home or at school. The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth (5-17 years): An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep offer evidence-based recommendations for a balanced day of movement,
A Balanced Day for Optimal Health: SWEAT, STEP, SLEEP, and LIMIT SEDENTARY TIME ages 5-17 years
What are the Benefits?
In my PHE 31O–PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR GENERAL CLASSROOM TEACHERS class we learned the benfits are:
- Academic Performance
- Student Confidence
- Student Behavior
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Social Health
How can Teachers Meet These Guidelines?
As educators, we play a crucial role in integrating movement into the school day. Here are some ways in my link2practice at Willows Elementary where these guidlines have been applied:
- Morning runs or physical activity sessions before school.
- Frequent movement breaks, where students can stand up, stretch, or do jumping jacks.
- Taking learning outdoors, such as a walk for science class.
- Setting up an exercise bike station outside the classroom.
Despite these efforts, many schools still fall short of meeting these guidelines. How can we shift this?
The solution begins with future teachers, like us, recognizing the importance of movement and actively working to incorporate these guidelines into our classrooms. By educating ourselves and adopting these strategies, we can help foster healthier, more active environments for our students.
Cross-Curricular Coding & Gaming in Education
Creating My First Coding Game with Flappy Birds
I learned how to code with Flappy Birds and even created my own coding game HERE. Learning step-by-step made it easy to follow, but I feel like I could spend hours exploring how everything works and figuring out ways to make an even better game.
Insights on Computational Thinking: Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills from Digital Literacy + Computational Thinking for Children
From the Best of Digital Literacy + Computational Thinking for Children YouTube video, I learned a straightforward definition of computational thinking and its role in enhancing students’ problem-solving skills. Computational thinking encourages a systematic approach to challenges. Through decomposition, students can break down complex tasks into manageable parts, while pattern recognition enables them to identify commonalities in problems, simplifying solutions. Abstraction helps students focus on relevant details while ignoring distractions, and algorithmic thinking guides them in creating clear, sequential steps to address issues. This approach equips students with a valuable framework for tackling problems effectively across subjects.
Importantly, computational thinking isn’t just for math or science—it’s applicable across various subjects. In language arts, for instance, students might use decomposition to analyze story structure, or pattern recognition to identify recurring themes. Such integration promotes critical and logical thinking, preparing students to tackle problems in diverse real-world contexts.
The BC Ministry of Education’s Computational Thinking Teacher Training Package offers a variety of resources to introduce computational thinking in the classroom through engaging and collaborative student activities.
Available PDF resources include:
What features of games that can make effective learning tools?
Here are some steps to make games effective learning tools from Rich’s lesson:
- Include instruction & explanation about underlying concepts.
- include adaptative scaffolding and mechanism and guidance
- offer gameplay that enhance the player’s sense of autonomy
- Offer gameplay that offers just doable challenges
- Dynamic in-game scores that leaning progress feedback
- Promote a learning attitude without time constraints or penalty score
Protein Myths vs. Science: Experts Talk about Protein Intake
Protein Are you Getting Enough? Podcast By Science Vs.
The evidence behind protein’s role in weight loss and muscle building comes from several scientific studies:
- Fullness and Weight Loss: Protein has been shown to be the most satiating macronutrient, helping people feel fuller for longer. This effect can support weight management by reducing overall calorie intake.
- Muscle Growth: Protein is essential for muscle repair and growth, especially after exercise. However, studies suggest that consuming protein beyond a certain limit (around 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight) doesn’t significantly increase muscle mass.
- Timing: Post-workout protein consumption may enhance muscle repair, but the “anabolic window” extends up to 48 hours, making immediate intake less crucial than often advertised.
According to the Harvard Medical School, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. This is the amount needed to meet basic nutritional requirements. However, if you are physically active or exercise regularly, you may need to increase your protein intake to support muscle repair and growth.
Determine your daily protein intake HERE.
Here are my results :
Intentionality In Technology Enabled Learning Design Reflection
Sketchnoting the Beach (Plage) in Class
Below is a summary of what I’ve learned
SAMR Model
The SAMR model, developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, is a framework that helps educators evaluate how technology can transform teaching and learning. SAMR stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition, representing the different levels of integrating technology into the classroom. You can watch this video on SAMR for further explanation.
The SAMR Model: Technology Integration from Enhancement to Transformation
Challenges of SAMR
While SAMR provides a roadmap for technology integration, it can be time-consuming for teachers to implement effectively. One of the key challenges is assessing the individual needs of students within limited time constraints. How do educators ensure technology meets each student’s needs in a timely manner?
TPACK Model
TPACK model, first introduced by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler in 2006 by research found HERE. The TPACK model helps educators select the most appropriate technology or tools to meet specific learning objectives. This model emphasizes the combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge, helping teachers choose tools that enhance their teaching in meaningful ways. It’s important to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each tool since not all educational technologies are suitable for every classroom or age group.
Could Sketchnoting Benefit Grade 3 Learners?
A 2018 study from the University of Waterloo, found that drawing is superior to writing for memory retention. This study showed that older adults could enhance their memory by incorporating drawing into their learning process. I believe this approach could greatly benefit my future Grade 3 classroom, as most children enjoy drawing and being creative. The study can be found HERE.
For example, when teaching a topic like fractions, students could use sketchnoting to visually organize their ideas, linking concepts across the page to aid in retention. By engaging in this creative process, students may find it easier to remember new concepts while enjoying the learning process.
Fitness Class Video
For our PE class at UVIC, we were tasked with creating a warm-up as part of an assignment. My partner and I chose to do a dance warm-up using the “Cha Cha Slide” and “I Like to Move It.” We combined dance moves with exercises to get the entire class involved, and we even dressed up in ’80s costumes to make it more engaging. It turned out to be a lot of fun because it wasn’t the typical warm-up; the music and lively atmosphere made it exciting for everyone.
Kathryn and Hanne Rocking ’80s Vibes for Our PE Warm-Up Session
I recorded the session on my laptop, but we faced a few challenges:
- We didn’t capture the whole class or ourselves clearly.
- The video and sound quality were poor.
- There was a risk of someone accidentally knocking over the laptop (luckily, that didn’t happen!).
For next time, here’s how we plan to improve. We found some ideas from Columbia University’s Video Production Best Practices, which include
- Use a tripod for stability: Ensures a stable, elevated view and prevents risk of the device being knocked over.
- External microphone for sound quality: Improves clarity by reducing background noise.
- Designated camera operator: Helps capture different angles and close-ups for a more dynamic recording.
- Use multiple cameras/devices: Captures various perspectives, making the final video more engaging.
- Consider lighting: Ensure good lighting for clear, high-quality footage. Use portable LED lights or ring lights if needed.
- Use a gimbal for smooth shots: Helps prevent shaky footage if the camera operator is moving.
- Get interactive feedback from participants: Include short interviews or feedback clips to make the video more engaging and showcase the experience.
- Post-production editing: Use software like iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush to enhance video, add transitions, and adjust sound levels.
Upgrading to a High-Quality Video Recorder for Better Footage
Assistive Technology & Equity Reflection
Photo of Seashore During Golden Hour on the North Shore of Oahu,Hawaii Using Accessible Close Captions and Hyperlink
How to Buy on Amazon.ca, video explaining the steps
Digital accessibility practices are often overlooked, such as using proper heading structures, adding clear alt-text to images, and ensuring video captions and audio transcripts are accurate and complete. Many miss the importance of adequate color contrast, descriptive hyperlinks, and making sure content is fully navigable by keyboard. Tools like automated captions can help, but they often require editing for accuracy. Keyboard navigation and focus indicators are also frequently neglected, despite being crucial for users who rely on assistive technologies. Personally, I sometimes forget to ensure descriptive link text and check for color contrast across all content.
I was surprised to learn about accessibility checkers, as I had never heard of them before. It’s a helpful step for anyone aiming to make their digital materials accessible, especially for those who might miss certain details manually. I learned from our Professor Rich, we can use WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools a set of evaluation tools designed to help authors make their web content more accessible for individuals with disabilities.
I believe many digital accessibility practices are not more widely known because 73 percent of Canadians do not have disabilities and, as a result, may not be actively thinking about the 27 percent who do. This lack of awareness leads to a limited understanding of the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, there is insufficient education and outreach to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility in digital spaces. Without more comprehensive training and resources, many people remain unaware of how their content might impact users with disabilities, which prevents the widespread adoption of inclusive practices.
Yoga
Yoga is a long-established practice that emphasizes mindful breathing, flexibility, and strength, aimed at enhancing overall mental and physical wellness. It encompasses various physical, mental, and spiritual techniques. Key aspects of yoga include breath control and specific postures—sequences of movements intended to build strength and increase flexibility. Originating in India several thousand years ago, yoga has since evolved and been embraced globally in diverse forms. Find out more HERE.
Well, this week I wasn’t on top of my fitness routine, struggling to balance work, school, and home life. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I like to look for resources I can use at home to help me manage my week.
This week, I did a 10-Minute Bedtime Yoga session with Adrienne. It’s one of my favorite ways to wind down, whether I need a solid night’s rest or to relieve stress from the day. It’s just a 10-minute commitment, and no matter how busy I am, I feel like I can always fit it in. I love that I can do it from the comfort of my own home, allowing me to stretch, tune in with my breath, and feel so much better after a long day.
3D Design Reflection
In the video MatterHackers Minute: Developing 3D Printing Curriculum in K-12 Education, Rebecca Buckhoff, a Technology Professional Development Specialist for Moreno Valley Unified School District, discusses designing 3D printing curricula for students and training teachers to facilitate these lessons. To learn more HERE.
Rebecca introduces concepts such as geometry, including perimeter, area, and XYZ graphing, to 2nd and 5th graders in the context of snowflakes. She explores the science behind snowflakes at the molecular level, the math of six-sided geometry, and the concept of rotational symmetry, where an object looks the same when rotated. Students use Tinkercad, a 3D design program, to create their own snowflakes based on the concepts they’ve learned, which are then 3D printed.
I believe using 3D printing as a cross-curricular tool is effective for teaching students skills while also providing behavioural and social-emotional support throughout the process. Students collaborate and seek help when needed, developing skills that can prepare them for future careers in fields like technology, medicine, product development, or art.
When considering the use of 3D design and printing in a Grade 3 classroom, there are several potential pros and cons to weigh. On the positive side, 3D design fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while also helping students develop a range of practical skills. It encourages creativity and allows students to learn by choice, exploring topics at their own pace. Additionally, it offers cross-curricular learning opportunities, enabling students to engage with multiple subjects simultaneously, such as math, science, and art.
However, there are also challenges to consider. 3D printers can be costly, and there may be a limited number of teachers trained to use the machines effectively. Technical issues, such as printing errors and mechanical problems, can disrupt lessons. Furthermore, some students may experience anxiety when facing difficulties with the design process or the technology itself.